T&T...1,000 OAS workers facing dismissal

T&T...1,000 OAS workers facing dismissal

Kevon Felmine
Published: Guardian
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
With close to 1000 Construtora OAS workers facing dismissal, Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) president general Ancel Roget is calling for an investigation into the company’s awarding of contracts to companies that had been favoured by the former People’s Partnership government.

He did so yesterday when he addressed workers assembled outside the Brazilian firm’s Golconda offices. Roget expressed concern that the company might bail and leave workers helpless in the near future. He said there were reports that the company, the main contractor in the $7.5 billion Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension Project, is selling off equipment to pay sub contractors.

“We are calling for an audit and a serious investigation into what is occurring with OAS at this current time,” he said.

“We are being told that specific and particular contractors, who the country had a problem with because they were favoured contractors of the last government, are now being given preference to complete that project while the workers who were at work in the first place are being sent off the job and being sent home. We have a problem and an issue with that.”

Roget said the workers are owed wages and which OAS Construtore officials claim they cannot pay because they are yet to collect funds from the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco). However, he said, Nidco is saying otherwise.

“Our fear is that they would sell out all of their equipment, as they are doing now. Once they sell out all that equipment, OAS might bail the country and the workers will be left in the lurch.

“These workers made a significant contribution to the highway, where it is thus far, therefore we are saying if they are owed money, the contractor cannot be allowed to escape and not pay that which is due to workers,” he said.

ArcelorMittal workers are scheduled to return to work on March 13, their future remains uncertain, according to Steel Workers Union president Christopher Henry who said the company is insisting that the union agrees to layoffs.

Henry said at a meeting last week, company officials said they were awaiting direction from their corporation management, as well as new contracts for subsidised gas, water and electricity.

He said workers continue to suffer as they were laid off without pay.